2017 Chevy Suburban w/ 3.08 rear end - Towing Experiences Requested

[Mmp227628]

Hello all. I have a 2017 Suburban that is not equipped with the HD/Max tow package, so I’m limited to a max of 6000 pounds towing capacity (it has the 3.08 rear end). I anticipate I’ll need the trans cooler and will install a trailer brake. I’m interested in hearing if anyone has experience at towing at/near the top limit of this vehicle’s listed capacity. I’m currently interested in purchasing a travel trailer that weight apps 4600 (dry weight) with a hitch weight of 515 (dry). I’ll also be traveling with 6 passengers (4 kids) and am looking at the Apex 245bhs. Thanks in advance to anyone who’s able to share heir experiences towing with a Tahoe/Suburban w/ the 3.08 rear end.

[bikendan]

First you need to post the payload capacity sticker weight, from the driver's door.
It'll say something like "Occupants and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs"
With that many people in the Burb, their weight will eat up a lot of payload.
PLEASE don't use fictional dry weights. Those numbers are based on a stripped-down version of the trailer. It doesn't account for batteries, options, water or cargo.
You have a Burb that was spec'd for getting groceries and not for towing.
I towed with a 2007 Avalanche(Burb with a pickup bed)and it had the full tow package, with 3.73 rear end ratio.
It was rated at towing 7200lbs but with a payload of only 1357lbs, it limited me to a much lighter trailer.

[Mmp227628]

Originally Posted by bikendan

First you need to post the payload capacity sticker weight, from the driver's door.
It'll say something like "Occupants and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs"
With that many people in the Burb, their weight will eat up a lot of payload.
PLEASE don't use fictional dry weights. Those numbers are based on a stripped-down version of the trailer. It doesn't account for batteries, options, water or cargo.
You have a Burb that was spec'd for getting groceries and not for towing.
I towed with a 2007 Avalanche(Burb with a pickup bed)and it had the full tow package, with 3.73 rear end ratio.
It was rated at towing 7200lbs but with a payload of only 1357lbs, it limited me to a much lighter trailer.

Thanks for the reply.
Suburban:
Payload 1617
GVWR 7500
GAWR FRT 3600
GAWR RR 4200

Trailer
GVWR 6500 (I do not intend to load anywhere near this limit as it is almost 2k over dry weight)

Thanks again for the responses

[bikendan]

Well, that's a pretty good payload for a SUV.
Unless you load a lot of cargo in the Burb, you should be fine.
A lot of 1/2 ton trucks have less than that.
Is it a LS model? If so, that may be why you have a higher payload.

[Mmp227628]

It’s an LT model. Still no Max/HD tow package, which I regret now. Or having. Also, I’m posting a picture of the yellow sticker just to confirm I’m using the right figure for payload. Thanks as well for the reply.

[Mmp227628]

Pic attached

[upflying]

What does a tow package Suburban have?
Trans and engine oil cooler, bigger radiator, bigger battery, bigger alternator, 7 wire connector, class 3 receiver and 3.73 gears?
Do the numbers and consider adding the modifications..the big ticket item is the gear swap..could be $2000.
If the modification expense exceeds the cost of a trade-in, then sell it and get one that has the tow package.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Mmp227628

It’s an LT model. Still no Max/HD tow package, which I regret now. Or having. Also, I’m posting a picture of the yellow sticker just to confirm I’m using the right figure for payload. Thanks as well for the reply.

That's what I thought, none of the heavy bling that many upper trim level SUVs have.
And yes, that's the correct sticker.

[dmdomokos]

I towed our Rockwood 2702WS with a 2014 Suburban with the 3.08 for a year. I added a trans cooler, brake controller, upgraded shocks, LT tires. It towed fine, no sway, and was fine for us up and down the California coast. Then we decided to head out to some national parks where we needed to tow on grades. 25mph up 6% grades, overheating, etc. etc. I tried to make that Suburban work, but ended up with a 3/4 ton truck.

[elchilero53]

Forget "Dry Weight"; that is red herring. Look at the GVWR for the trailer. Just looking at your numbers, you are marginal if not actually over loaded. The only way to get the REAL numbets is to get the thing weighed at a CAT Scale at a truck stop. Prepare for a shock (and either a smaller trailer or a new tow vehicle). I would guess you are overloaded by a good margin. You can add all of the cooling/towing equipment you want but that is a waste of time and money if you are overloaded. I would put the money in a new tow vehicle.

[dmdomokos]

One thing I forgot to mention about towing with a 3.08 rear end Suburban, terrible gas mileage. I think we were getting 8mph on the flat. Into a wind, you could see the gas gauge moving. We generally could only go 200 miles max on a tank. Up any kind of grade, we were always stopping for gas at the top. But like I said, it was all fine just going local and up and down the coast, until we wanted to branch out.

[Shamrockthecasbah]

In most cases towing with a 1/2 ton, one runs out of payload before they run out of tow rating. I think your situation my be unusual in that you will likely exceed your tow rating of 6000 and GCWR of 12,000 before you exceed you payload. This is due to a decent payload, but lack of a tow package.

Dry weight of your suburban is 5583 (7200GVW - 1617 payload)
Dry weight of your TT 4600
Total Dry= 10,183

Let say you add 1000lbs to the trailer (typical), and 1000lbs to the burb (6 people, luggage, hitch etc) your total GCW would be 12,183 which exceeds the GCWR limit by a bit.

The 6000lb towing limit is directly related to GCWR. The tow rating assumes an empty TV with a 150lb driver, and a full gas tank. So, any weight added to your TV beyond that, would reduce your 6000lb tow rating by a corresponding amount.

I think your situation is doable, you'll just have to keep an eye on weights, and as other have said, the CAT scale is your best guide.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by elchilero53

Forget "Dry Weight"; that is red herring. Look at the GVWR for the trailer. Just looking at your numbers, you are marginal if not actually over loaded. The only way to get the REAL numbets is to get the thing weighed at a CAT Scale at a truck stop. Prepare for a shock (and either a smaller trailer or a new tow vehicle). I would guess you are overloaded by a good margin. You can add all of the cooling/towing equipment you want but that is a waste of time and money if you are overloaded. I would put the money in a new tow vehicle.

Dry weight is exactly what you want to look at. GVWR means nothing in terms of what you'll weigh. I have a 22' Wildwood with over 3K in payload- would never be anywhere near GVWR.


Look at the dry weight of YOUR camper. Add 500 pounds plus 100 pounds per person and you'll be really close for 90% of RVers.

[luker0]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

Dry weight is exactly what you want to look at. GVWR means nothing in terms of what you'll weigh. I have a 22' Wildwood with over 3K in payload- would never be anywhere near GVWR.


Look at the dry weight of YOUR camper. Add 500 pounds plus 100 pounds per person and you'll be really close for 90% of RVers.

I think you are sending a bad signal to the OP. My trailer as delivered from the dealer was almost 100 lbs more than published dry weight. Once I get it in the spring and fully load it for the road I fully expect anywhere from 700-1000 lbs above dry weight. We tend to travel light as well.

Also, average weight usually used for people calculation is 150 on the low side. In our family as an example weights for the DW, son and myself adds up to 440 lbs. Friends of our have a family of four that adds up to 660 lbs.

With six humans alone his Suburban is likely carrying close to 900 and definitely over 900 with clothes and other equipment in the SUV. Add in probably around 700 lbs in tongue weight......

Only way to really know is scales or trying to add up all the weight.

I personally prefer not to tow with anything less than 3.73 rear gear as it is a lot easier to get up to speed and maintain it than say 3.08 or 3.55s. Hell I really like 4.11s but don't like taking the mpg hit when not towing.

[Bluepill]

OP Stated "4 Kids". Maybe he can state actual total Passenger weight?

[Mmp227628]

Hello and thanks for the replies. I’m estimating total passenger weight to be 750lbs for all 6 passengers (kids and adults). Also curious to know what TTs that people with Suburbans with the 3.08 rear end have towed and how it has performed? Thanks again

[upflying]

Originally Posted by Mmp227628

Hello and thanks for the replies. I’m estimating total passenger weight to be 750lbs for all 6 passengers (kids and adults). Also curious to know what TTs that people with Suburbans with the 3.08 rear end have towed and how it has performed? Thanks again

I am sure there are a lot of stories about overweight and maxxed out towing.
And I am sure most people are able to do it without incident. AFAIK, private vehicles are not weighed at roadside commercial trucking scales nor does LE pull over RV's just to check weight and tow ratings.
Most if not all states probably have a catch-all towing law that prohibits an unsafe towing combination.
The auto manufacturers run their products through towing tests with a multitude of test equipment. No doubt tow ratings edge on the side of conservative to keep product liability attorneys happy.
Exceeding weight and towing limits makes the driver a test driver in the event of an accident. Litigation after an event that is attributed to overweight is where you getting trouble with law enforcement, insurance companies and attorneys.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
And yes, I am concerned about the weight I am pulling with my Frontier..also equipped with 3.08 gears.

[Hersbird]

Tow packages won't effect that payload number on your Suburban and that is the number that will limit you anyway. Basically if you had the higher rating for towing and you used all of the rating, your tounge weight would probably be 800-900 pounds. Still the payload would be 1617 pounds so cargo and passengers in the Burb would be limited to 700-800 pounds.

PS this is why we looked for a 2500 Suburban with a 2800 pound payload ( not to mention 9000 pound tow rating) They stopped making them in 2013 or 2014 I think besides a few very high dollar 3500 law enforcement ones.

[babock]

I see the OP lives in Chicago so probably not going to see considerable mountains. I would see how it pulls and then if it needs a new rear end gear set, do that later.



Keep an eye on transmission temperature. I believe that's an option in your dash display. I suggest a TruCool 40K cooler.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by babock

I see the OP lives in Chicago so probably not going to see considerable mountains. I would see how it pulls and then if it needs a new rear end gear set, do that later.

That is not an excuse to pull an overloaded trailer for the tow vehicle.

I've driven through ChiTown many times and know that being able to stop is just as important as getting it going.